how much weight REALLY lost??

I've been reading so much about the "average" amount of excess weight that is lost with WLS. I've read that the "average" is 70%....is this right? I mean that would put me right around 165 and I truly cannot in my wildest dreams imagine being that size again. Don't get me wrong it would be fantastic, but is it realistic this 70% I keep reading about? Not sure if it matters but I weigh 265 and am just about 5 foot 1.

I weighed 323 when I left the hospital, this was 12 pounds of water weight from surgery and IV's added to my 311 pre-op weight. I now weigh 165 and am 5'7". I have lost a total of 158 pounds. I am absolutely thrilled with my loss and plan on losing another 20 pounds. I never thought in a million years that I would weigh this LESS. I had a goal of 200 lbs and a size 16 pants at 1 year, I am in a 12 and 165... and I have like a week till my 1 year anniversary. After my tummy tuck I will probably be in a 7 or 8. I don't think I ever wore that size when I was younger!!! I never thought I would ever weigh that much, but if you work at it, exercise and keep an eye on your food intake, anything is possible!! Good luck!! ~Julie

Wow Julie, you've done great to say the least!! I am so happy for you, you must just feel like a completely different person some days? So needless to say you're glad you went with the surgery. I guess I'm just afraid to go through with it and only lose 30 pounds and then end up gaining that back too. I know that's stupid because I know the surgery works. I think I've just been so heavy now for so long that I've truly given up on believing I could be a "normal" size again? KWIM? I just hate to believe it and then end up having it not happen. But I know from all the stories I've read and all the books on the subject that there should be no reason I wouldn't get to a more "normal" size with the surgery. I guess sometimes it just seems like it could never really happen, but believe me I'm hoping it does. Boy would I love to turn out even half as great as you have! Keep up the good work girl!